Former NDP government leader Piers McDonald has been named the new chancellor of Yukon College.

McDonald is replacing Geraldine Van Bibber, who is just wrapping up her second, two-year term.

The ceremony to welcome McDonald began at noon today at the college.

Van Bibber had announced previously she would be stepping down after her second term. In June, she indicated she would be seeking the Yukon Party nomination in Porter Creek North for the coming election, and secured the nomination.

Following his work as an underground miner in Elsa in the 1970s, McDonald entered territorial politics as a New Democrat, first taking a seat in 1982.

He served as a senior cabinet minister for two terms in office in the late 1980s and early 1990s under then-NDP premier Tony Penikett.

McDonald successfully led the NDP to a majority government in the September 1996 territorial election, ousting then-Yukon Party government leader John Ostashek after one term.

He lost his seat in the 2000 territorial election as the territorial Liberal party swept its way to power for the first time since party politics began in the Yukon in 1978.

Following his career in politics, McDonald returned to the private sector. He was instrumental in establishing Northern Vision Development as a primary business venture in the Yukon.

McDonald becomes the seventh chancellor since Yukon College named the late Pierre Berton as its first chancellor in 1988, when the current campus opened.

Tlingit elder Pearl Keenan followed Berton.

She was replaced by former Yukon commissioner Ken McKinnon, who was replaced by Tlingit elder Sam Johnston. The latter also served as the Speaker of the legislature during Penikett’s governments.

Whitehorse business magnate Rolf Hougen took over from Johnston and was replaced by Van Bibber.